Archives for July 2010

Gross and ewww! Add this to the weird beauty product files — De Tuinen Snail Gel, a skincare product made from the slime of Chilean snails (!), supposedly softens, smooths and supports skin elasticity for a more youthful-looking you.

Apparently, these snails ooze a slime high in allantoin, a compound found naturally in most mammals (but not in humans). It’s an active ingredient in many over-the-counter beauty products for its purported moisturizing and exfoliating properties (it’s said to help loosen and shed the outer layers of skin).

Chilean snail farmers (now there’s a phrase you don’t hear often) first discovered the moisturizing power of the slime, and clinical tests have shown that snail secretions high in allantoin can, in fact, plump the skin.

For a mere Â£20.45 (about $32 US dollars), Britain’s Holland and Barrett, specialists in natural supplements and herbs, will send you your very own jar of snail goo. 🙂

Sorry, US babes — at least for the now, the company only ships to countries in Europe.

For the record, I am totally grossed out by snails, slugs and other slimy things, but I’d probably try almost anything in the name of beauty science.

Snooki from MTV’s The Jersey Shore is probably the last person I want to be quoting, but girlfriend’s signature catchphrase perfectly describes my feelings for Boots No7 Cheek Tint in Peach Silk ($10).

“WAAAH!”

My heart gave itself over to Peach Silk from the very first swipe. One of three Boots cream blush colors, it had me at hello, but ’twas a love not meant to be (more on that in a sec). So easy to blend and effortless to apply, it’s a matte peach that I think makes me look like I’m actually blushing, and I’d hoped we’d have many great makeup adventures together.